Michigan vs Northwestern

No. 14 Michigan started off the season on a losing note with its trip to Notre Dame, but since then, Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines have been rolling and are emerging as a contender in that stacked Big Ten East division. Saturday on the road, one week after the statement beat down of Nebraska, Michigan will look to maintain its unblemished record in the conference when it takes a trip to Northwestern to take on the struggling Wildcats.

Michigan: Say this for the Wolverines: they can handle their business. After dropping the Week 1 game at Notre Dame, Michigan has won three straight by an average margin of 39 points. If nothing else, it can line up, hat on hat, and dominate lesser opponents. Can it do that against Northwestern on the road? Michigan is 9-6 on the road under Harbaugh and few of those wins have come easily.

Northwestern: The Wildcats will be without leading rusher Jeremy Larkin moving forward. Larkin, who had 346 of the team’s 351 yards rushing this season, was forced to retire from football effective immediately due to a spinal condition. Junior John Moten IV has been a career backup/short yardage option, but he’s listed as the starter. Jesse Brown and Isaiah Bowser may get carries as well. Who steps up in the ground game?

Michigan has the better defense and a more established ground game. It should have everything it needs to win on paper, maybe even comfortably. Losing Larkin stinks for Northwestern, too. However, Michigan has not been a great road team under Harbaugh and the Wildcats are coming off a bye. With those things in mind, a nearly two-touchdown spread is big enough to take the points. Pick: Northwestern +13.5